Orthodox Union

Torah Blog

You all know the one we mean – Chanukah, which starts on the 25th of Kislev! (This year, that translates to the night of December 16.) Since Kislev began, we’ve been amping up Chanukah content on OU Holidays. Currently-featured articles include “The Message of the Chanukah Lights” by Rabbi Yosef Grossman, “Latkes and Donuts: ‘Oil’ […]

There’s a saying that “conventional wisdom is often neither.” For example, “everyone knows” that we’re supposed to throw bread at tashlich on Rosh Hashana and that Jews with tattoos cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery. Except that, you know, neither of those things is true. (In fact, since tashlich is supposed to be performed […]

There’s an old saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” Well, somehow, beyond all the limitations of a 24-hour day, Rabbi Shalom Rosner has managed to do it again! Rabbi Rosner is one of the most popular and most prolific contributors to OU Torah. Among the ongoing series he provides are Daf […]

“Pesach” is nice and easy to spell, but we still call it “Passover” half the time. Wouldn’t Succos (or whatever) be easier to Google if we actually called it “Tabernacles” like in the old-timey prayer books? Well, however you spell it, we’ve got it on OU Holidays! Features for Sukkot (whatever) include answers to Frequently […]

Selichos and Rosh Hashana are imminent. With them comes a focus or “tefillah, teshuva and tzedaka” – prayer, repentance and charity. In truth, improving the quality of our prayers is something for which we should constantly strive but the Rosh Hashana season is particularly conducive to the effort. To help in this area, may I […]

Elul is here! OU Holidays has released its first wave of Elul-themed content, with more on the horizon! For starters, we have Elul Thoughts – part 1 by Rochi Lerner a”h. Shira Smiles speaks on Elul: Opening the Gates. Rabbi Eliyahu Ferrell introduces us to the month, with a focus on parental guidance. Finally, the […]

What’s the happiest day in the Jewish calendar? Surprise – it’s not Purim! The Talmud in tractate Taanis (26b) tells us that no day was as joyous as the 15th of Av, AKA “Tu B’Av.” What’s so special about this day – and why is it off the radar of so many of us? OU […]

The three weeks from 17 Tammuz to 9 Av are a period of increasing mourning. As we proceed through the Three Weeks to the Nine Day to the week of Tisha b’Av, our sorrow intensifies. This is a period of deep introspection as our shortcomings and misdeeds have cost us the Temple, which served as […]

One of the things Jews worldwide are doing in support of our brethren undergoing harrowing and dangerous times in Israel is intensifying their study of Torah. To facilitate this endeavor, OU Torah is providing some recommendations for relevant Torah-study programs. (Of course, any Torah study may be undertaken in the merit of eretz Yisrael; these […]

…and the living is easy. And Pirkei Avos is a summer favorite! Did you know… OU Torah has a series of shiurim covering all of Pirkei Avos as part of the Mishna Yomit program (which is currently finishing tractate Bechoros and starting tractate Arachin on July 13). Taught by OU Director of Kosher Education Rabbi […]